It's actually been a difficult week.
Disappointments. Frustration and bit of heartache, but that's life and crappy things happen at times. It's how you handle yourself as you move on that matters most. I was blindsided by an event that I did not anticipate but I'm ok with it now as the dust settles. Sometimes we need these things to occur so we can understand ourselves more clearly, question what we really want in life and then move on with more clarity than perhaps before. When we fall, when we are holding on with fingertips, if we focus on our reactions, we can notice what it is we want to hold on to and where it is we want to end up. What makes us passionate reveals what matters most to us.
StUdio Notes
This week I have completed another work for an upcoming Flower deck in oils & mixed media. Loving the depth and the meanings that I'm exploring as I write alongside this body of work. I'm not sure when I'll be releasing this deck as I do have a few things to work out and deciding on how it will be published is one of them. My artistic challenges have been letting go of my current deck style (a type of naive expressionism) for a more traditional approach as I feel this lends itself more to the concept of this body of work. Inspirations are Russian Zhostovo Folk style painting, the light of the Flemish Primitives and the richness of the still life works of the 17th Century Northern European floral subject artists. This deck will be complete by the end of June.
Concurrently, I am working, as always on my long term project: my Garden Oracle. It's been a very long process as I want to work through the year of a garden and put those experiences within the deck. As I need more than one temperate zone and one garden, I've worked through many years to make this happen. The conversations with many of you and shared experiences have enriched so much of what I do and I can not wait to begin sharing a little more of the art and the nature of this body of work very soon. Once my next Flower Deck is complete, I will be ready to start sharing a bit more.
Those who have been following progress? SOON!
OnLine WorKshops
I have two online workshops running at present. One is an 8 module (work at your own pace) Flora Reading Course for those wishing to become Certified Flower & Plant Readers and the other a 6 module course for those wishing to create their own card decks (self published or traditionally published). I host a vibrant, interactive and very supportive private teacher/student forum for each and you can join the courses at any time (now!) and work completely at your own pace with lifetime access.
MORE INFORMATION:
Become a Certified Flower Reader
Create Your Own Card Decks
In~Person WorkShops
I'll be at the upcoming Sydney Mind Body Spirit FestivAl presenting a Workshop on the Saturday and a Meditation on the Sunday. This year MBS is free for those who register online. All workshops are also free for those attending.
You are invited to my free workshops at Sydney MBS:
"Flower Reading for
Divination & Healing"
Saturday 29th May
11:30am Seminar Room B
Learn how you can Read Flowers
for healing and for insight in this interactive
workshop. Cheralyn will also give a mini reading to each participant at the workshop.
"Sacred Flower Meditation"
Sunday 30th May
2:00pm Seminar Room B
Cheralyn invites to a beautiful healing
Flower meditation. Let us explore your
Flower Guide and hear what he or she has
to say to you. Cheralyn will also leave each meditation participant with a
Flower Reading.
For more information:
Mind Body Spirit Festival Sydney Facebook Event Listing
Mind Body Spirit Sydney Seminars
Mind Body Spirit Festival Website
FloWer of the Day
Catch up postcards for the flower of the day series this week are sent out each Sunday night in my weekly newsletter.
Obtain links to all seven Flower of the Day postcards in your newsletter each week.
If you love these postcards, you may like to subscribe to the Florasphere e~magazine,
a weekly email filled with extra flower and plant goodness just for subscribers.
In the GarDen
Oh there's a chill in the air each morning now! I've cleared one plot of summer sunshine goodness to make way for some winter warmth.
This week I've dug in compost, cow manure and a of love to rest the earth before I plant out broccoli, bok choy, more cabbages, silverbeet in this plot. Thats an artichoke stretching her arms to sky in the corner!
I'm harvesting beans of many varieties, silverbeet, bok choy, lettuce, tomatoes, nasturtiums, celery and spinach this week. An abundance of basil sees me making up a lot of pesto later this weekend for family and friends!
Not sure what to plant in your veggie patch this month?
Try out this wonderful online resource:
Gardenate Planting Guide
Florasphere ~ How to DrAw Flowers
It's been a while coming but here it is! My first video tutorial and a worksheet. Both free for you to keep, download and share.
This week is WARATAH
The key is practice. You might even like to grab some tracing paper and trace this worksheet a few times first. Then, once you are confident enough to draw a waratah from start to finish alone, practice. Extend yourself and try variations. Invest in a pocket sketchbook and little pencil and sketch whenever you have a spare moment. Pretty soon you will be drawing bunches of beautiful Waratahs!
Enjoy and yes it's ok to share and download.
For a full 40 minute free "How to Draw a Waratah video tutorial, which includes waratah healing, guidance, botanical history and gardening chat,
When you get there, click SUBSCRIBE so you are first to know when new videos are available.
IkeBana
After an amazing day at the Sydney Botanic Gardens a few weeks ago and experiencing the wonderfully enlightening Ikebana displays and hearing the artists, I have taken the long wished for step and begun formal training this week.
I cold not find a course anywhere near me but have found a wonderful teacher online.
If you are interested in exploring, I highly recommend my new teacher Stephen Coler, more information: THIS LINK
This is my first attempt with what was in my garden ~
MotHer's DAy
Happiest of Mother's Day Blessings and joy to everyone.
As a Mother with my own children apart from me today, I did wake feeling a bit sad but then it turned to slow rising joy as I realised the lesson of Chrysanthemum, LIFE.
To give life is to give space, to create and to let go and to be optimistic for what may come. To understand that there will be cycles of rebirth (you will get to directly nurture again) but like the pulling in of the flower after it's time, you need to again release until you are called again by the seasons and cycles of Life.
My children can not be with me today because they are following their dreams and I am so very proud of them for that. Today they are working in jobs that they love completely, both caring for others in very different ways but none the less, with a commitment and care that makes me incredibly proud. So I'm happy to be a Mum today and stand back while my children plant their own dreams in places and in ways I might never of dreamt myself.
I also think of Mother's Day as so much more than just the direct maternal bond, but also in the connections and commitments we make to others. To care, to help with life through nurturing, providing a place in our hearts, at our tables, studios and in our spaces to be heard and supported and encouraged. To those of you who care and nurture others, our earth, our creatures, ideas and creations of care and hope, I wish you many happy blessings and thanks for all you do.
BookSeller ThankYou
Blown away with shelf position! Thank you so much for the store love Dymocks Books Westfield Warringah Mall in Sydney
I stumbled upon this in person but if you are a bookseller and have an awesome pic of one of my titles in your store to share, send it to [email protected] with your bookstore web address.
ColouRing In SheeT for YOU!
click on image for a full~sized downloadable copy
image can be shared as is (with credits)
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead,
may Nature fill it with beautiful blessings,
Cheralyn xx